DOJ: Inmate in Bilibid rape try case found positive for illegal drug use

An inmate accused of trying to rape an eight-year-old girl inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) has tested positive for illegal drugs, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima revealed on Monday.

 

De Lima added that the inmate, who has already confessed to the crime, would be facing charges of frustrated homicide, attempted rape, and child abuse.

 

"I specifically instructed them (jail officials) when I went there to conduct drug test on the suspect. So ni-report sa akin kahapon ng umaga ni [NBP Superintendent Richard] Schwarzkopf na positive daw," the secretary said in an interview.

 

De Lima said the incident proved that the illegal drug trade still proliferated inside the national penitentiary.

Since Dec. 15, De Lima led several surprise raids at the NBP, leading to the confiscation of contrabands and other prohibited items like illegal drugs, cash, gadgets, and even luxury items.

 

"Although ang latest update sa akin if I may share this with you is that because of the operations we conducted and continue to conduct beginning Dec. 15 ay nagkakaubusan na daw ng droga sa loob," she said.

 

De Lima said on Jan. 1 that only members of the immediately family of inmates were allowed to visit, in light of reports that some women managed to sneak in posing as inmates' relatives.

 

"Kaya lang unfortunately nangyari iyang incidente na iyan [attempted rape]. Sinabi nga namin sa magulang lalo na sa nanay kasi hinayaan ninyo na nakahiwalay sa inyo ang bata kaya biglang nawala," said De Lima.

 

The victim is a daughter of another inmate and was visiting the NBP's Maximum Security Compound for the holidays. She was found unconscious inside a comfort room there and believed to have fallen victim to an attempted rape.

 

During the New Year's party at the dormitory, he said, the girl went along with some friends who were also children of other inmates.

 

But authorities sensed something was wrong when they looked for her and could not find her for about 10 minutes.

 

Schwarzkopf has blamed the attempted child-rape incident on the lack of security personnel there. —NB, GMA News